Protecting, maintaining and improving the health of all Minnesotans
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PRACTITIONERS
ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, October 15, 2015
IN ATTENDANCE:
Present Members
Lynnette Buckley
Donna Coughlin
Dr. Lisa Dutton, PT, PhD
Chris Harbaugh
Dr. Stephen Jobe, DC
Laura McGrath
MDH Staff Members
Anne Kukowski
Kim Ruberg
Laurie Studer
Cindy Xiong
Guests
Peggy Brandenburg
Cathy Brennan
Absent Members
None
AGENDA:
I.
II.
Convene and Introductions. Introductions were made.
Announcements
A. Expiring Council Members. Buckley and Coughlin’s memberships are expiring in January, 2016.
B. Expired Surcharges. Kukowski informed Council Members that the electronic surcharge expired at
midnight on June 30, 2015.
C. Convenience Fee. Practitioners are now being charged a small convenience fee when they pay for
their licensing fees online using a credit card.
D. 2016 Meeting Dates. Proposed meeting dates were presented.
E. Staffing Updates. Kukowski announced that Health Occupations Section Manager, Gil Acevedo had
accepted the Assistant Commissioner position with MDH. Kukowski will be acting manager until
Acevedo’s position is filled.
III.
Review and Approval of Minutes. Request to correct spelling of “Brennen” to “Brennan.” Otherwise,
minutes from the April 16, 2015 meeting were approved as written.
IV.
Additions/Adoption of Agenda. Brennan requested to add another subject to the “New Business” section of
agenda.
V.
Staff Updates – Ruberg presented OTP stats.
Full
Temporary
OT
3,561
19
OTA
1,128
9
TOTAL
4,689
28
General Information: 651-201-5000 • Toll-free: 888-345-0823 • www.health.state.mn.us
An equal opportunity employer
Kukowski presented Investigation and Enforcement Reports through the 1st quarter of FY16.
Intake
Investigations Opened
Investigations Closed
Enforcements Opened
Enforcements Closed
Pending Investigations
Pending Enforcements
VI.
OT
5
2
7
1
4
13
5
OTA
4
0
1
1
1
6
7
Old Business – Retention Schedule. Kukowski will be proposing a modification to the departmental
retention schedule announced in January 2015. Under OTP statutes, practitioners whose licenses
have lapsed may return to practice through renewal procedures. The new requirements does not align
with this statute. HOP also has concerns about the new shortened period for retaining investigation
and enforcement records.
VII.
New Business
A. Legislative Proposals - OTP. Kukowski discussed proposed amendments to the OTP statutes,
including repeal of some definitions related to PAMs; clarification that OTAs may only use
PAMs under direct supervision; clarification that individuals practicing under temporary
license cannot be supervisors; and substitution of a current statutory reference for reference
to a provision that had been repealed; the possibility of removing the background check
provisions for OTPs; and the likelihood that MDH will be asking to increase OTP license
fees in the future.
B. New Business – OT Initial Licensing Application. Brennan requested a general language
change to the transcript question on the application.
VIII. Adjourn – Meeting adjourned.
Next Meeting:
Thursday, January 14, 2016
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